Stellar Affair Part 4
A week had passed since my meeting with Ayan. The meeting in my view was professional. I gave my best. Naina quite frankly believed that it was dull. 'How could he possibly not remember you?You haven't for once forgotten him!', she sounded disappointed. Honestly, in one corner, I felt less valued. All these years, if I had to think of an enemy or nemesis, it was Ayan. My boss was getting agitated, people from Ayan's office hadn't called for further meetings.
'Were you able to make an impression?' he asked sternly.
'I did my best job, Sir'
'THEN WHY HAVEN'T THEY CALLED US YET?' he raised his voice
For a moment I went blank. A week is quite a long time. Either they didn't like the services provided by the company or the secretary had forgotten to notify us for further details. The first reason was more likely possible. 'Sir maybe they haven't read the procedures', said optimistically.
'Or maybe you weren't good enough', he replied with distaste. Each and every syllable of those words echoed in my head. Nobody had ever spoken to me like that, not even Sahu ever before showed such lack of confidence in me. This whole Project Ayan had started to pinch a bit more than usual, my job was my area of perfection. My frustration had reached its saturation point. I went to my desk and dialled his manager's number which he gave last week. The phone went on voice mail, as usual, starry tantrums.
'Sir, this is Shireen Sharma from Zenith. I wanted to know if I have any further meetings with Mr Kishore'
and the recorder went off. If they don't call back, I am doomed. What if I get demoted or worse...get fired? Simply, I was going ballistic. Added to all of this, I saw Aarush move out of the office with a girl. He had held her by the waist. Clearly, he had made more friends in the past week. I felt like shouting and screaming only the voices didn't erupt.When I reached home I took a quick shower. 'Think positive' I reminded myself and went off to sleep.
***
Stepping into the office felt like stepping into a war zone. Sahu's bomb could blow off any moment. I went to my desk. None of my stuff was there, it had been all cleared up. It had happened. 'That bastard...' was all I could utter. I stormed into my boss's office. 'Ah Shireen! What a pleasure it is to see you', he sounded pathetically happy and I certainly didn't like that. 'Sir, may I know why my stuff has been cleared?' I asked
'Oh! Did nobody tell you?' he answered. 'Tell me what sir?' his cool and calm tone was scaring the shit out of me.
'Congratulations Shireen, a six month assignment in Bombay has been assigned to you. You leave in 48 hours precisely'
***
'Bombay!', screeched Naina in the cafe. We decided to meet up since I was moving. 'How did this happen?' she looked quizzical.
'Well, courtesy Mr Kishore'
'Ayan!' another screeching sound. People sitting on the adjacent tables glared at us.
'Can you keep it low' I whispered.
'Sorry! But how?'
And I narrated her the entire episode, 'Mr Kishore can be quite pleasing. Apparently, my voice mail was heard by Ayan himself. The poor manager was scolded for not getting back to our firm. Ayan then personally called my boss and requested for 24/7 assistance. He told Sahu that he was thoroughly impressed by my outgoing nature. Sahu has hinted promotion and permanent transfer to Bombay, provided all this turns out to be a success', when I finished, Naina waited for few moments.
'What does this 24/7 assistance mean exactly?' she asked
'It means for the next six months I go wherever my client goes public', I explained in the most simple words.
'Six months?'
'My schedule says six months, after that I may or may not counsel him'. Naina sat quite, she didn't say anything for long. Her face had turned into a serious one.
'This doesn't sound really nice to me', she said after the long pause.
'How do you mean?'
'I mean the way you told me, the session went very dull. You just had fifteen minutes with him and he seemed to have no interest. Isn't it strange?'
'What's strange? Not many clients open so fast'
'But do they ask for private assistance? Shiru, just think. A top Bollywood hero who has a casanova reputation and because of it is in crisis. He is stubborn with his actions and now he wants to become all sane? People don't change so quickly'
'What do you want me do?' I asked, figuring out nothing from she said.
'I think you should reconsider on going to Bombay. I think its a hoax'
'Naina, you're not in a movie. This is reality and profession. Why are you thinking too much?'
'Because you aren't!' she raised her voice. We rarely disagree with each other but this time something entirely different was happening.
'I think you are thinking beyond your capability', I joked and tried to ease out. 'FINE! Have a good trip' she said furiously and immediately got up from the table. 'What's wrong with you?' 'NOTHING WITH ME' and she gestured to leave. I was puzzled as ever, knowing absolutely nothing. The moment Naina reached the cafe exit, she screamed 'AND I AM NOT PMSing!', which proved she was.
***
Time for Bombay. My schedule was forwarded a day before and it looked pathetically exhausting. Some of the dates included travelling abroad which kind of excited me. I was still worried about Naina, she hadn't returned my calls. I wondered if it was the anger taken out because of me or Raunak. Things hadn't been easy lately. His work and her own. I messaged one last goodbye text to which she responded immediately.
Sorry, was very frustrated with work and Rau. And PMS sweety :P Have a great journey and come back soon! Love you :*
The message was quite a relief. I couldn't have had a good trip knowing my best friend isn't talking to me. At last, it was boarding time.
'Sir, this is Shireen Sharma from Zenith. I wanted to know if I have any further meetings with Mr Kishore'
and the recorder went off. If they don't call back, I am doomed. What if I get demoted or worse...get fired? Simply, I was going ballistic. Added to all of this, I saw Aarush move out of the office with a girl. He had held her by the waist. Clearly, he had made more friends in the past week. I felt like shouting and screaming only the voices didn't erupt.When I reached home I took a quick shower. 'Think positive' I reminded myself and went off to sleep.
***
Stepping into the office felt like stepping into a war zone. Sahu's bomb could blow off any moment. I went to my desk. None of my stuff was there, it had been all cleared up. It had happened. 'That bastard...' was all I could utter. I stormed into my boss's office. 'Ah Shireen! What a pleasure it is to see you', he sounded pathetically happy and I certainly didn't like that. 'Sir, may I know why my stuff has been cleared?' I asked
'Oh! Did nobody tell you?' he answered. 'Tell me what sir?' his cool and calm tone was scaring the shit out of me.
'Congratulations Shireen, a six month assignment in Bombay has been assigned to you. You leave in 48 hours precisely'
***
'Bombay!', screeched Naina in the cafe. We decided to meet up since I was moving. 'How did this happen?' she looked quizzical.
'Well, courtesy Mr Kishore'
'Ayan!' another screeching sound. People sitting on the adjacent tables glared at us.
'Can you keep it low' I whispered.
'Sorry! But how?'
And I narrated her the entire episode, 'Mr Kishore can be quite pleasing. Apparently, my voice mail was heard by Ayan himself. The poor manager was scolded for not getting back to our firm. Ayan then personally called my boss and requested for 24/7 assistance. He told Sahu that he was thoroughly impressed by my outgoing nature. Sahu has hinted promotion and permanent transfer to Bombay, provided all this turns out to be a success', when I finished, Naina waited for few moments.
'What does this 24/7 assistance mean exactly?' she asked
'It means for the next six months I go wherever my client goes public', I explained in the most simple words.
'Six months?'
'My schedule says six months, after that I may or may not counsel him'. Naina sat quite, she didn't say anything for long. Her face had turned into a serious one.
'This doesn't sound really nice to me', she said after the long pause.
'How do you mean?'
'I mean the way you told me, the session went very dull. You just had fifteen minutes with him and he seemed to have no interest. Isn't it strange?'
'What's strange? Not many clients open so fast'
'But do they ask for private assistance? Shiru, just think. A top Bollywood hero who has a casanova reputation and because of it is in crisis. He is stubborn with his actions and now he wants to become all sane? People don't change so quickly'
'What do you want me do?' I asked, figuring out nothing from she said.
'I think you should reconsider on going to Bombay. I think its a hoax'
'Naina, you're not in a movie. This is reality and profession. Why are you thinking too much?'
'Because you aren't!' she raised her voice. We rarely disagree with each other but this time something entirely different was happening.
'I think you are thinking beyond your capability', I joked and tried to ease out. 'FINE! Have a good trip' she said furiously and immediately got up from the table. 'What's wrong with you?' 'NOTHING WITH ME' and she gestured to leave. I was puzzled as ever, knowing absolutely nothing. The moment Naina reached the cafe exit, she screamed 'AND I AM NOT PMSing!', which proved she was.
***
Time for Bombay. My schedule was forwarded a day before and it looked pathetically exhausting. Some of the dates included travelling abroad which kind of excited me. I was still worried about Naina, she hadn't returned my calls. I wondered if it was the anger taken out because of me or Raunak. Things hadn't been easy lately. His work and her own. I messaged one last goodbye text to which she responded immediately.
Sorry, was very frustrated with work and Rau. And PMS sweety :P Have a great journey and come back soon! Love you :*
The message was quite a relief. I couldn't have had a good trip knowing my best friend isn't talking to me. At last, it was boarding time.
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